Woman in the Polar Night

Christiane Ritter travels to the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen in 1934 to spend a year there with her husband. She is initially horrified by the freezing cold, bleak landscape, and lack of equipment and supplies, but as time passes, she falls in love with the Arctic's harsh, otherworldly beauty and gains a great sense of inner peace and a new appreciation for the sanctity of life. This rediscovered classic memoir tells the incredible tale of a woman defying society's expectations to find freedom and peace in the adventure of a lifetime.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2019
Publisher: Pushkin Press

Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica by Sara Wheeler paints a vivid portrait of the harsh realities of life in the frozen wilderness. Ritter's writing vividly captures the sensory experiences of a polar winter, from the rasp of the skin runner to the scent of burning blubber and the rippling iridescence of the Northern Lights.

Empire Antarctica by Gavin Francis delves into the historical and political complexities of the Antarctic region. Francis provides a comprehensive overview of the region's history, from the early exploration efforts to the modern-day disputes over resources and territorial claims.

In 1934, the painter Christiane Ritter embarks on a journey to the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen, seeking solace and a break from her comfortable life in Austria. However, what she finds is far from what she expected. Instead of a relaxing trip, she and her husband are forced to live in a tiny ramshackle hut on the shores of a lonely fjord, hundreds of miles from the nearest settlement.

At first, Christiane is horrified by the freezing cold, the bleak landscape, and the lack of equipment and supplies. She struggles to adapt to the harsh conditions and longs for the comfort of her home. But as time passes, after encounters with bears and seals, long treks over the ice, and months on end of perpetual night, she begins to discover the true beauty of the Arctic.

She falls in love with the Arctic's harsh, otherworldly beauty, gaining a great sense of inner peace and a new appreciation for the sanctity of life. The memoir is a testament to Ritter's resilience and determination in the face of adversity. It tells the incredible tale of a woman defying society's expectations to find freedom and peace in the adventure of a lifetime.

Through her experiences in the Arctic, Ritter learns to embrace the unknown and to find joy in the simplest of things. She discovers the power of nature and the importance of preserving the environment for future generations.

Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of exploring the frozen wilderness. It is a powerful and inspiring memoir that will leave you in awe of the human spirit and the boundless possibilities of the natural world.

Empire Antarctica is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history and politics of the Antarctic region. It provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the region's challenges and opportunities, and will help you better understand the complex dynamics that shape this remote and fascinating place.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 198 x 131 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781782275640